Game



w. M. DAVIS Sept. 29, 1959 GAME Filed Nov. 9. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Wa IbuPMDaz/w lit... I..

Sept. 29, 1959' w. M. DAvls GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9. 1956 @t uhr/l r A :TI r muuu w We .L M..

ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 w. M. DAVIS 2,906,534

GAME

Filed Nov. 9. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1959 GAME Wilbur M. Davis, Brooklyn, N.Y. Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,465

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-93) `The present invention relates to a game and particularly relates to a game which may be used in connection with sports and particularly sports such as baseball which use a series of players and have a ball which earns the score and action.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and portable game of the character described in which there are provided a series of rotating discs and finger elements which may simulate the action in a game, particularly of the baseball or football type, and which -will enable players to keep score.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple ball game of the character above described which will include a relatively simple lightweight circuit arrangement which a small flashlight battery vand a simple multiple certain predetermined combinations vare 'achieved and certain scoring is accomplished. y v

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set'forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope and` spirit ofthe present'invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to mold a base unit out of plastic which Will form a receptacle for the tiashlight battery and light for the various circuit plates and for 'the various switch elements, as well as the dials and insulating elements.,

1 The molded flat casing will desirably have molded therein the, switch actuators, as well as the pivot members for the rotating discs and the various windows for:

exposing the score or notation elements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novell construction, combination and arrangement of partsfas hereinafter Will be more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompany-- Ling drawings, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, vari- Yations and modilications canbe resorted to which fall `within' the scope of ,the claimshereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Fig; 1 is a top plan view ofthe to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a back plan view thereof.'

game device vaccording Fig. `3 isA atransverse sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig` 1 upon an 'enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View upon the line of Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale as compared Vto Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a rear view with therear cover removed showing the internal structure of the dials and thermanner' thegplastic face A and is received in the recess formed indicated at 20 in Pig. l0.

l Fig. 7 is an exploded layout of the scoring and insulating and contact dials.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an insulating paper inserted and located in the assembly.

Y. Fig.`9 is a plan View of the metal switch linger arrangement; and

Fig. l0 is a plan view of the foil-faced contact circuit plate..

Referring to Figs. l to 6, there is shown the molded plastic casing or face plate A having the receptacle portion B for the battery C and the bulb'or flashlight D.

Molded integrally with the plastic face plate or casing A are the contact or actuator fingers E.

On the face of the casing A is shown a baseball eld F which has a dial'G for the batter, and dials H for the outs, J for the strikes, K for the balls, L for the number of players reaching rst base, and M for the visitors score (see Figs. 1 and 7). Y

At the other side there are provided a dial N to indicate the third base position and another dial Q to indicate 'home term score, and still another dial O to indicate second base.

Centrally positioned in back of the plate is the main Vdial P, which is accessible from the left of the main plate or housing A.

These dials will be insulated from the conductor cardboard plate R by the paper plate S.

The conductor cardboard plate R, as shown in Fig. 2, forms a back cover for the unit and will enclose the vbattery spring'contact element T as Well as the switch vplaterstructure U.

jThe-entire section may be suspended from a hanger element V which will be connected to the back of the device and on top of the cardboard back element or back .cover R.

lwith a conductive sheet which may be plated or laminated thereon, such conductive foil or metal sheet being This conductive sheet will be enclosed inside of the structure, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The insulating cardboard backing 21 will protect the conductive sheet from the outside or from the back of the assembly. f i f lThe laminated metal foil facing 20 and the cardboard backing 21, which are coextensive will form the stiff rigid iback cover member R. 50

.. The upper portion of the back cover member R has a tab 22with a fold line 23 which is formed between the slits 24 (see Figs. 2 and 10).

The linger opening 25 is provided to enable this tab to bebentA downwardly and the battery C to be replaced without disassembly of the entire unit.

.The central portion of the back plate has a central opening Z6 and a quarter moon opening partly encircling the same at 27.

The rearwardly extending prong 2.8 from the molded `'front structure A will register or project through the open ing 26'while the molded semi-circular recess 29 offset rearwardly from the molded front plate or coverA will be accessible through the opening 27 (seeFigs. 2, 5 and base disk Mounted on the prong 28A will be the second or dial O indicating second base.

.The disk or dial O shown in Fig. 7 has a central opening 30 which is pivotally mounted on the prong 28 and which is held in position between the back cover R and by the molded portion 29.

Referring to the front of the structure as shown in Fig. 1, the second base disk O can be observed through a square-shaped opening 31 as well as by the opening formed by the recess 29.

The recess 29 will permit the linger or thumb to be inserted to move the second base disk O for calculation purposes.

This is accomplished by means of having a tit 32 project upwardly from the recess 29 causing the edge 33 of the disk to project upwardly so that it may be readily turned by means of the iinger or thumb inserted to the recess 29.

The openings 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 on the back of the cover R are designed to receive prongs 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 which are designed to receive respectively the outs dial H, the strikes dial I, the balls dial K, the first base dial L and the visitors score dial M.

The openings in these dials, as indicated respectively from 50 to 54, receive the prongs 45 to 49 and hold the dials in position.

As shown on Fig. 1, these dials are all exposed by the cut-out portions 55 respectively formed at the right edge of the molded plastic face plate A.

In addition, the first base dial is exposed through the square-shaped opening 60 so as to indicate whether there is present a man on base.

These dials H, I, K, L and M may be turned by pressing the finger against the edges thereof as they are accessible through the recesses 55 and 59 all inclusive.

At the other side of the molded face plate A there is accessible the main or pitcher dial P, the third base dial N and the home score dial Q by reason ,of the cut-outs 61, 62 and 63 formed in the left edge of the face plate A.

The central opening 64 of the main pitcher dial P will fit onto and rotate around the periphery 65 of the molded recess carrying portion 29.

The periphery has a series of tabs 66 which project through the recess 61 as shown in Fig. 1 and enable rotation thereof.

At the same time, there are provide a plurality of openings 67, 68, 69 and 70 arranged in an outer circle, 71, 72, 73 and 74 in an intermediate circle and two openings 75 and 76 in an innermost circle.

These openings permit establishment of a circuit which will illuminate or cause flashing of the bulb D.

The openings normally, when turned, will cooperate in position with the actuator ngers.

The main dial P, by reason of the openings 67 to 76, will determine what circuits may be established between the foil 20 and the switch fingers U and the contact ngers E.

For example, when one of the openings 67 to 76 cornes opposite the projection 77 of the iingers E, this iinger may be pressed downwardly to cause one of the metal contact fingers 78 of the switch structure U to contact the foil 20 through the respective opening resulting in a circuit which establishes a current through the bulb D.

The switch plate U is normally held in position by the openings 90 and 91 which t upon the plastic posts 92 and 93 which project through the rear openings 94 and 95 in the back cover R.

These posts hold the assembly together and cooperate with the post 96 (see Fig. 5) which serves to hold the hanger element in position.

The switch plate U also has an upwardly directed forwardly bent tab 97 which contacts the screw shell 98 of the bulb D, as shown in Fig. and it has a recess 99 at the upper edge thereof.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the projection 104 will engage the screw shell 98 and press it against the spring contact linger 97.

The switch plate U is separated from the foil 20 by the dial P and an electrical connection can only be made when one of the fingers 78 are opposite the opening 67 t0 76 whereupon the projection 77 may be pressed down to establish the circuit.

The other side of the circuit is established by means of the electrical tab or brass strip T, which is held in position at one end 100 by the post 96 (see Fig. 5) and which at its other end 101 contacts the base 102 of the shell 103 of the battery C (see Figs. 3 and 5).

The spring leaf or contact T will press the pole contact 105 against the tip 106 of the screw shell 98.

The main disk P is also partly observable through the central pitcher window 120, as indicated in Fig. l.

When observed through this window, it will be overlapped by the batter dial G, which is accessible through the cut-out or recess portion 121.

The dial G is mounted to rotate upon the post 122 (see Fig. 5) which is integral with the housing A and projects through the opening 123 in the back cover plate 110.

The lower posts 124 and 125 project through the entire structure and into the openings 126 andv 127 on the back cover R so as to hold the entire arrangement together, when assembly has been accomplished.

These posts 124 and 125, when the assembly has been accomplished, together with the posts 92, 93 and 96 may be peened or heated so that they will expand and lock the entire structure together.

It will be noted that the dial G in Figure 7 has the peripheral tabs 128 which are designed to enable the dial G to be rotated. The dial G is accessible through the recess 21 and it also is provided with openings 129 which overlap the circle of indications 130 which are inside of the tabs 66 on the dial P.

As a result, the various designations HH, SS, SB, etc. may be partly blocked depending upon the position of the openings 129 in the dial G so that there will only be visible a single B indicating a ball, a single S indicating a strike or a single H indicating a hit.

At the lower left hand side of the front casing A are positioned the dials N and Q which are available for rotational purposes by reason of the recesses 62 and 63.

The dials are mounted on the posts 13S and 136 (see Fig. 5) and the dial N also is observable through the square-shaped opening 137 in Fig. 1.

These posts project through and are received in the openings 138 and 139 in the back cover R.

The sheet S constitutes an insulating sheet and it is positioned directly on top of the foil 20 and in back of the dials P and G.

It has a horizontal row of openings 140 which correspond in position and location to the fingers 78 and the presser members E.

This insulating sheet S also has a tab 141 corresponding to the tab 22 and it has openings 142 and 143 corresponding to the posts 92 and 93.

The openings 144 and 145 (see Fig. 8) correspond to the pivot mountings for the dials P and Q.

In assembly, the casing A is prepared, molded and marked so as to have indications on the front thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 1, then the battery C at the light D and the various dials shown in Fig. 7, are inserted in position on the proper posts.

Next the switch plate U is placed in position, then the insulating sheet S of Fig. 8 and finally the back cover plate R, then the tab V is placed in position and the posts 92, 93, 96, 124 and 125 are sealed down.

To describe the operation of the dials H, J, K, L, M, N and Q, they are not functional, but enable the keeping of score. v

The dials L, O and N are visible through the windows l31, 60 and 137 so as lto determine whether men are positioned on first, second or third base, the dial G also does not effect the electrical circuit.

In playing the game, on the pitcher dial P, it is possible to select a fast, slow or curved tab while the batter on the batter dial G will select a tab and both players will then move their dials P and Q in the direction of the arrows 150 and 151 (see Fig. 1) Vas far as allowed by the recesses 61 and 121. The result of the pitch will then show at the window 120 as a strike, a ball or a hit.

As shown in Fig. l a strike appears. If however, H appears indicating a hit, the batterthen presses each button E until the bulb D lights.

This light will show the type of hit achieved, whether a single, double, triple or homer or an out.

The small dials at the right and left may beused-to indicate the positions of runners on the base as well as the scores achieved.

To use the umpire button 152 of Fig. l, this is done only after there is a ily-out at button 153 or a groundout at 154 where a base runner tries to advance after a ily-out or to steal a base or if a pitcher tries for a double play after a ground-out at 154.

In using these buttons, the batter announces plans to steal or advance and the pitcher moves the dial P as if pitching then the batter presses the umpire button 152.

If the bulb D lights, the runner is safe.

For double play, the umpire button 152 is pressed at each base separately and the pitchers wheel P is moved between each position.

The umpire button 152 operates in the following manner.

It will be noted that some of the tabs 66 on the main pitcher dial P are wider than others as indicated by the black markings thereon. When one of the tabs 66 is turned as far as possibly allowed by the recess 61 one of the other tabs 66 will be in the vicinity of the umpire button 152.

If this is a long tab 66 the tab will extend under the button 152 preventing an electrical circuit being established.

If however there is a short tab :adjacent the button 152, the button 152 will establish a circuit to the light D. If the bulb lights the runner will be safe on base or will have successfully stolen a base. If it does not light, the runner is out.

'I'he correlation between the batter dial G and the pitcher dial P is as follows. The pitcher dial will operate as follows, Normally when one of its tabs 66 is moved to the limit of the recess 61, this will place under the window 120, one of the group of double letters shown at 130 in Fig. 7.

However the batter dial G will be positioned on top of the pitcher dial P, and the openings 129 will expose only one of the letters when the tabs 128 are moved to the right as far as permitted by recess 121.

This will then indicate a single S for a strike or a single B for a ball or a single H for a hit.

The game may :also be used for football with dial P being the offense wheel and dial G being the defense wheel. Push buttons E are used to indicate yardage gained.

The double dials P and G overlapping at window 120 give greater element of chance with, 36 different possibilities corresponding to 18 tabs on the pitcher dial P.

One or two people may play the game with one controlling pitcher dial P and one controlling batter dial G.

Both players must move dials P and G at the same time to the edge of the recesses and the result will appear at window 120. Balls and strikes a-re tabulated by the side dials while the hits are determined by pressing the buttons E.

It is thus apparent that the present applicant has provided a compact, simple, readily carried toy baseball game, which can be used for playing baseball by young and old and which has sulcient element of chance and intricacy to fascinate and attract even the most skilled followers of the game.

The same basic principles may also be applied to football, soccer, hockey andother games involving a plurality of players and a moving ball which is to be propelled in dilerent ways by opposite teams.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical game device comprising a molded plastic front plate taking the form of a receptacle member having dependent side walls, said plate receivingjin its receptacle from top to bottom, a plurality of marked rotatable flat dials, including spaced overlapping dials with peripheral markings, one being a main player dial and the other being a subsidiary player dial, said front plate having spaced openings to expose portions of the periphery of the dials, said dials including a main dial having spaced openings, a metal spring linger contact plate having a plurality of spring contact lingers projecting below said main dial and under said openings, an insulating separator board positioned below said contact plate and having openings corresponding in position to the ends of said spring contact lingers and a conductor board below said separator board to establish an electrical circuit when said contact fingers are pressed downwardly through said main dial openings and said separator board openings, said receptacle carrying a battery and a bulb mounted in contact therewith and when the openings in said main dial and said separator board are correctly aligned, the pressing of lsaid contact finger will establish a circuit from the battery through the bulb to light the same.

2. The device of claim l, said receptacle member also having a recess to receive the battery and the light with an opening in said recess permitting projecting of the bulb portion of the light.

3. The device of claim l, said plate having a plurality of thin spaced strips formed therein separated by slots positioned overlying said contact fingers and to press said contact fingers downwardly to establish said circuits.

4. The device of claim 1, said plate having a plurality of integrally molded pivot spike members forming the pivot mounts for said rotatable at dials and also extending through said separator board and said conductor board to hold them in predetermined position.

5. The device of claim l, said main dial serving as the pitcher dial and an auxiliary dial serving as a batter dial, said dials overlapping and being exposed through a central spaced opening in said plate to expose indicia on the pitcher dial indicating hits, strikes or balls.

6. The device of claim l, said separator board having a hinged open section to permit access to and replacement of said battery and bulb.

7. A portable pocket electrical ball game playing device comprising a top enclosure composed of a slotted and windowed face plate and depending vertical side flanges molded of a plastic insulating material having a receptacle formed integrally therein, a plurality of parallel downwardly extending resilient integral ngers formed by slotting the face plate around said fingers, .a window in the face plate, an insulating playing dial pivotally positioned to rotate in back of said face plate and having peripheral markings exposed `through said window, and the dial having spaced openings to pass below the ends of said lingers, a metal conductor plate positioned between said face plate and the dial, having a plurality of parallel metal fingers corresponding in position to the rst mentioned plastic fingers, a conductor plate in back of said dial, a battery and a light bulb in said receptacle and conductor connections between the battery, the light, the conductor plate and the metal lingers, with the metal lingers when pressed through the dial openings contacting said conductor plate and establishing a circuit to light the bulb.

8. The game of claim 7, said game including both an upper pitcher dial and a lower batter dial, said dials overlapping at the central portion of the face plate and in back of the face plate and the sides of said plate having apertures through which the sides of said dials project so that said dials may be turned to different positions with respect to one another and with respect to said fingers and to a cover board closing the rear of said face plate and holding said dials, said metal plate and said conductor plate in position, :and said cover board also having a hinged member covering and permitting access to the receptacle for replacement of said battery and light bulb.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

